Disney Researchers Create Multitouch Controllers From Plants (video)

Disney’s researchers have created an unusual yet innovative technology that can convert plants into multitouch controllers. Allowing certain areas of the plants to be assigned specific triggers that can be used to play music or interact with software.

Watch the video after the jump to learn more about the Botanicus Interacticus project and see it in action, on both living and artificial plants.

The transformation of the planets into gesture controllers is simple, non-invasive, and does not damage the plants, and only a single wire is placed anywhere in the soil.

“The interaction with plants goes beyond simple touch and allows rich gestural interaction. Examples include: sliding fingers on the stem of the orchid, detecting touch and grasp location, tracking proximity, and estimating the amount of touch contact between user and a plant.”

The new technology opens the door for a mass or new possibilities, and one can bee seen at the SIGGRAPH Emerging Technology conference in Los Angeles. Where an entire garden has been transformed into a interactive experience.